FAMILY

Born: 18 January 1921, birth registered at Wolverhampton, West Midlands son of Archibald and Fanny Fryer m.s. Taylor.

1921 Census: living at 77 Green Lane Wolverhampton with his parents and older brother Harold.

1939 Register: Wilfred is living at 149 Low Hill Crescent, Wolverhampton with his parents, brother Harold a capstan lathe hand. Wilfred described as working with brass fittings, younger brother Frederick a tool maker and younger sisters Jessie and Frances at school.

SERVICE

Rank: Gunner

Service Number: 1103493

Regiment: Royal Artillery, 79 Field Regt.

Died: 17 December 1942, aged 21 years old, of smallpox at Onich Military Hospital (In World War 2, Glencoe House and Craigdhu at Onich became military hospitals) 

Buried: Fort William Glen Nevis. Sec. C. Grave 194 

SMALLPOX

Wilfred having contracted smallpox was reported in the press Dundee Evening Telegraph Published: Wednesday 16 December 1942

" ... SMALLPOX IN HIGHLANDS An outbreak of smallpox has occurred in the Lochaber District, West Inverness-shire. A case reported from Onich a few days ago is confirmed. The patient is a member of the Forces. Practically the whole population of about 300 have been vaccinated."

Wilfred died the day following the press statements.

There had been outbreaks of smallpox in a number of areas of Scotland earlier that year A ship from Bombay had arrived in Glasgow on May 29, 1942, carrying smallpox, which resulted in 36 cases and 8 deaths.

In Fife,
three weeks after the last case in Glasgow, an outbreak in Fife resulted in 29 cases and 8 deaths.

The first case of smallpox in Edinburgh appeared at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, and then spread to the hospital's convalescent home and into the general public. The source of infection for 8 of the 13 community cases in Edinburgh was never identified.